Shiftaway photographic strip dryer

ABSTRACT

A shiftaway photographic strip dryer including a stationary frame mounting a plurality of spaced apart rollers for receipt of strips of photographic print paper to form coextensive lengths of such paper which are spaced apart to define chamber-receiving spaces. Nozzle chambers are provided for receipt in such chamberreceiving spaces and include nozzle orifices for directing heated air onto such paper. The nozzle chambers are carried from the stationary frame by means of a carrier to enable such chambers to be shifted in and out of the chamber-receiving spaces. Means is provided for blowing heated air into the nozzle chambers so print paper fed over the rollers may be dried by heated air and when it is desirable to thread such rollers, the nozzle chambers may easily be shifted to one side for convenient access to the rollers without danger of workmen threading the rollers being burned on the hot nozzle chambers.

Unite States Patent [191 Harman, Jr. et al.

[ SHIFTAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC STRIP DRYER [75] Inventors: John N. Harman, .lr., La Canada;

James S. Livingood, Reseda, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Drewry Photocolor Corporation,

Burbank, Calif.

[22] Filed: June 5, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 259,873

[52] US. Cl 34/229, 34/155, 34/222 [51] Int. Cl F26b 19/00 [58] Field of Search 34/222, 229, 155, 152, 34/191,159, 231, 163; 68/5 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,264,752 8/1966 Hunter 34/229 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 720,216 2/1932 France 34/229 Primary ExaminerJohn J. Camby Mar. 12, 1974 Assistant Examiner.lames C. Yeung Attorney, Agent, or FirmFulwider, Patton, Rieber,

Lee & Utecht [5 7] ABSTRACT A shiftaway photographic strip dryer including a stationary frame mounting a plurality of spaced apart rollers for receipt of strips of photographic print paper to form coextensive lengths of such paper which are spaced apart to define chamber-receiving spaces. Nozzle chambers are provided for receipt in such chamber-receiving spaces and include nozzle orifices for directing heated air onto such paper. The nozzle chambers are carried from the stationary frame by means of a carrier to enable such chambers to be shifted in and out of the chamber-receiving spaces. Means is provided for blowing heated air into the nozzle chambers so print paper fed over the rollers may be dried by heated air and when it is desirable to thread such rollers, the nozzle chambers may easily be shifted to one side for convenient access to the rollers without danger of workmen threading the rollers being burned on the hot nozzle chambers.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHIFTAWAY PHOTOGRAPHIC S DRYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The shiftaway photographic strip dryer of present invention may be utilized for continuous drying of photographic print paper upon withdrawal thereof from a processing tank.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

It has been common practice to merely air dry print paper but with the advent of high-speed processing of photographic prints, it is desirable to provide for high speed drying for rapid completion of the entire process.

Dryers have been proposed which include nozzles for delivering heated air adjacent the surface of the print paper but such devices suffer the shortcoming that the nozzles are stationary with respect to the rollers mounting the strip paper thereby rendering the process of threading such paper over the rollers difficult and subjecting workmen to discomfort and the possibility of being burned on such nozzles when it is necessary to thread the strip paper while the nozzles remain hot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The shiftaway photographic strip dryer of present invention is characterized by blowers mounted on a stationary frame for having a continuous strip of print paper threaded thereover for drying of such print paper. The rollers are arranged to define nozzle chamberreceiving spaces and nozzle chambers are shiftable into and out of such spaces so the chambers may be shifted to one side during threading of the rollers.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shiftaway photographic strip dryer embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the shiftaway photographic print dryer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the shiftaway photographic strip dryer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the shiftaway photographic strip dryer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a top view similar to FIG. 3 and showing the nozzle chambers shifted to one side.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The shiftaway photographic strip dryer of present invention includes, generally, a stationary cabinet 11 which mounts a plurality of transverse rollers 13 (FIG. 4) in vertically spaced apart relation for receipt thereover of a continuous strip of photographic print paper 15 to be dried. The rollers 13 are arranged to have the continuous strip 15 form outwardly facing vertical lengths l7 and 19, respective outer nozzle chamberreceiving spaces 21 and 23 and central vertical strips 27 and 29 which form a central nozzle receiving space 31. Three downwardly projecting nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39 are selectively received in the respective spaces 21, 23 and 31 and are carried on their upper extremities from a carrier, generally designated 41, which is shiftable from its broken line position shown in FIG. 5 to the solid line position to thereby expose the rollers 13 for convenient access for threading of the continuous strip 15 thereover.

The cabinet 11 generally defines an enclosure having a doorway formed in the front thereof and covered by a hinged door 45. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, the cabinet 11 includes a pair of horizontal rails 47 in the upper portion thereof for supporting the carrier 41 for shifting transversely thereon.

Mounted on the carrier 41 is a blower 51 which blows air downwardly through a heater 53 and into the upper ends of the respective nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 33.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39 are formed with louver-type horizontally extending nozzle orifices 57, the central chamber 39 being formed with orifices on both sides thereof for directing warm air directly onto the confronting faces of the respective vertical lengths27 and 29 of print paper. Referring to FIG. 2, leading upwardly from the bottom end of the cabinet 11 to the intake of the blower 51 is a return duct 61 for returning air to the inlet of such blower.

A take-up reel 63 is mounted adjacent the cabinet 1 1 for reeling the print paper 15 thereon as the dried paper is fed from the dryer.

In operation, the carrier 41 may be shifted rearwardly on the rails 47 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 5 thereby shifting the nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39 out of alignment with the rollers 13 to render such rollers readily accessible for threading thereof. The strip of print paper 15 to be dried may then be threaded over such rollers without danger of the workmen being burned on the nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39, and the lead end of such strip may be fed onto the take-up reel 63. v

The carrier 41 can then be shifted backto the position shown in FIG. 2 and the blower 51 and heater 53 energized to commence blowing hot air into the upper ends of the respective nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39 to pressurize such chambers and force hot air out of the nozzles 57 for direct impingement on the confronting surfaces of the print paper. The air exiting such orifices 57 will flow generally downwardly in the cabinet 11 to be drawn into the inlet to the return duct 61 for being returned to the intake of the blower 51.

If the strip of paper 15 should break during operation of the dryer thus rendering it necessary to rethread the rollers 31, the carrier 41 can again be pushed rearwardly on the rails 47 to the solid line position shown in FIG. 5 thus shifting the nozzle chambers 35, 37 and 39 again out of alignment with the rollers 13 to render such rollers readily accessible without the necessity of working around the hot nozzle chambers and exposing the workmen to the attendant discomfort and possibility of burn.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the shiftaway photographic strip dryer of present invention is economical to build and is particularly convenient to use since the nozzle chambers may be shifted to one side during threading of the rollers.

We claim:

1. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer comprising:

a stationary frame;

carrier means carrying said chambers from said stationary frame for shifting thereof transversely from said operative to said inoperative positions;

a blower for blowing drying air into said nozzle chambers; and

a heater for heating said air whereby said nozzle chambers may be shifted transversely to said inoperative position for easy access to thread said paper over said rollers, said chambers shifted back to said operative position, said heater and blower energized to blow hot air through said orifices and onto the surfaces of said paper for rapid drying thereof.

2. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth 4 4. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said blower and heater are mounted on said carrier for movement therewith. 5. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a cabinet housing said frames and including a doorway on one side thereof for passage therethrough of said chambers when shifting from said operative to said inoperative positions and a door for closing said doorway.

6. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

drive means for drawing said paper over said rollers. 7. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a take-up reel; and

means for driving said reel to take said paper up thereon.

8. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

said rollers are vertically spaced apart so said paper may be threaded thereover to form said spaces vertically elongated and open on their top ends;

said nozzle chambers when in said operative position project downwardly into said spaces from the top end thereof.

in claim '1 wherein:

said carrier means includes rail means extending par- 9. A shiftaway photographic dryer as set forth in claim 2 wherein:

allel to said rollers and slideably receiving said chambers for sliding therealong. 3. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said rollers are vertically spaced apart so said paper said blower and heater are mounted on said shiftable frame for movement therewith. 10. A shiftaway photographic dryer as set forth in claim 2 that includes:

a cabinet housing said frames and including a doormay be threaded thereover to form said spaces verway on one side thereof for passage therethrough tically elongated and openon their top ends; of said chambers when shifting from said operative said nozzle chambers when in said operative posito said inoperative positions and a door for closing tions project downwardly into said spaces from the said doorway. top end thereof. 

1. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer comprising: a stationary frame; coextensive rollers mounted on said stationary frame in spaced apart relationship for receipt thereover of a continuous strip to form coextensive spaced apart lengths of said strip cooperating with one another and said frame to form chamberreceiving spaces; chambers received in said chambEr-receiving spaces and formed with nozzle orifice means extending substantially throughout the length of said chamber and opening adjacent said lengths to direct drying air substantially across the width of said strip, said chambers being shiftable transversely relative to said operative position disposed in said spaces to an inoperative position clear of said spaces; carrier means carrying said chambers from said stationary frame for shifting thereof transversely from said operative to said inoperative positions; a blower for blowing drying air into said nozzle chambers; and a heater for heating said air whereby said nozzle chambers may be shifted transversely to said inoperative position for easy access to thread said paper over said rollers, said chambers shifted back to said operative position, said heater and blower energized to blow hot air through said orifices and onto the surfaces of said paper for rapid drying thereof.
 2. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said carrier means includes rail means extending parallel to said rollers and slideably receiving said chambers for sliding therealong.
 3. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said rollers are vertically spaced apart so said paper may be threaded thereover to form said spaces vertically elongated and open on their top ends; said nozzle chambers when in said operative positions project downwardly into said spaces from the top end thereof.
 4. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said blower and heater are mounted on said carrier for movement therewith.
 5. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a cabinet housing said frames and including a doorway on one side thereof for passage therethrough of said chambers when shifting from said operative to said inoperative positions and a door for closing said doorway.
 6. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes: drive means for drawing said paper over said rollers.
 7. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a take-up reel; and means for driving said reel to take said paper up thereon.
 8. A shiftaway photographic strip dryer as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said rollers are vertically spaced apart so said paper may be threaded thereover to form said spaces vertically elongated and open on their top ends; said nozzle chambers when in said operative position project downwardly into said spaces from the top end thereof.
 9. A shiftaway photographic dryer as set forth in claim 2 wherein: said blower and heater are mounted on said shiftable frame for movement therewith.
 10. A shiftaway photographic dryer as set forth in claim 2 that includes: a cabinet housing said frames and including a doorway on one side thereof for passage therethrough of said chambers when shifting from said operative to said inoperative positions and a door for closing said doorway. 